The seam where you backstitch like crazy to anchor the threads will be the only seam that you'll later have to rip out....
No matter how many times you check which way a strap handle goes, you'll always sew it on with a twist somewhere.
The embroidery or fancy stitch SAMPLE you make will come out perfectly. However, the REAL version of that same embroidery or fancy stitch on what you're making will be wonky.
It's been a fun day here, as you can probably tell! Please warn me about any more sewing truisms, before I attempt them, too. LOL!
Posts: 4420 | Location: About 28,000 Light Years From Galactic Center | Registered: Jul 23, 2004
The fabric that looks like the perfect color in the store to go with what you already have will look way too dark when you get ready to cut out the quilt.
You have plenty of each fabric for a pattern except for one that is just enough! When you cut, the only mistake you will make involves the "just enough" fabric!
The bobbin or spool of thread runs out with one quilt block left to quilt!
You find the missing in action item just after you buy its replacement!
You buy a "new tool" only to realize that it is the basically the same as one you already have--or they have changed the marking slightly so that you need to "see the change" to figure out the pattern! As soon as you compare the old with the new, you realize you have two of the same--except a pattern may be easier to follow with the "new" version! This is happening more and more now.
You breakdown and buy some computer type program only to find out a week later that a new version will be coming out in a few months!
Posts: 1000 | Location: Wisconsin | Registered: Aug 17, 2006
The first buttonhole you make (on the bottom) will be perfect. The last buttonhole (at the neck) will be the worst one on the blouse, after all that practice. You know if you did the first one at the neck it wouldn't work out.
"It's bad to supress laughter. It goes back down and spreads to your hips."
Posts: 7481 | Location: California | Registered: Sep 02, 2003
That small boo-boo you let slide during the construction of a quilt will bug the heck out of you when you see it again as you are layering your quilt to begin quilting - which requires you to stop and fix that little boo-boo which you should've fixed to begin with!
On the last stitch of the finishing of the neck of a white blouse, you will stab your finger with the needle and leave a drop of blood where it shows. This is, of course, 20 minutes before you need to wear it and will go to the event with a wet garment.
The little bite of chocolate you snuck while ironing will show up as a pressed blob on the chest of the garment. Except if you are a contestant on Project Runway in the candy challenge, where all of it will melt off the model as she struts the catwalk.
"It's bad to supress laughter. It goes back down and spreads to your hips."
Posts: 7481 | Location: California | Registered: Sep 02, 2003
Of course you know Nancy, that your spit will take out your blood. Now it will not just be a drop, but a big smear and on the lightest part of the article.
Hmmm...some of you speak as if from experience...???
Dropped pins can only be found by bare feet.
Dropped buttons only show up after you dig out 6 more of a different kind and start using them.
Dropped beads disappear into another dimension & can't ever be found...except by your vacuum, making you wonder, "What the heck was that?" And then you check your engagement ring to decide if you need to rip the vacuum bag apart or not.
Posts: 4420 | Location: About 28,000 Light Years From Galactic Center | Registered: Jul 23, 2004
The light-haired cat will sit on the dark cushions. The dark haired cat will lie on the white sheets. Cleaning would be easier (or not) if the reverse were true.
"It's bad to supress laughter. It goes back down and spreads to your hips."
Posts: 7481 | Location: California | Registered: Sep 02, 2003
LOL All of these are so true! You buy the backing for a gift quilt because you know that you have the pre-wound bobbins to match. However, you can't find the bobbins and you need to get it done now. So you go with the next best one. Half-way through the last pass of the pattern, you find the bobbins that you knew you had, in a place that you already searched. Can't tell you how many rulers, markers, threads I have re-ordered only to find the first one I bought. I sure am supporting somebody!LOL
You volunteer to make a baby quilt/throw/tablerunner.....(fill in the blank) thinking it would be a good way to use up your stash. But the colors the recipient requests are never the colors you have enough of in your stash.
You go to Joann's, 50% coupon in your hot little hand, to pick up the ONE thing you REALLY need and you find out that is on sale already for 10% off.
Posts: 1510 | Location: Middle of the Mitten | Registered: Jan 23, 2003
Your blouse is all done and the last step is to cut open the button holes. You catch the back of the blouse and cut a big slit in the back of your brand new blouse!!!!!!
You can go to JoAnn's when the thread's on sale, but the list of what color numbers you need will always stay home.
You'll run out of a few more thread colors the week AFTER the sale, too.
You can pat yourself on the back for hitting the 99 cent pattern sale on the proper day, but you'll get home & discover that half those patterns you bought are already in your cupboard. (That's why they looked so interesting at the store!) Don't think making a list of what patterns you already have will help...the list will never make it into your purse before the next sale.
And this one, that just happened to me: A pattern piece will always land going the wrong way on napped fabric. You will not discover this until you're up to the last step, hemming.
Posts: 4420 | Location: About 28,000 Light Years From Galactic Center | Registered: Jul 23, 2004
Mine has to do with getting your machine to play nice.
When the machine has decided that it has had enough of you and wants to visit someone else you can not get it to: sew with the right tension, work without breaking every thread put in it, stop making funny noises (only you can hear) and the needle will never be sharp enough not to skip the occasional stitch in the most obivious place.
So you take it to the service guy and he smiles at you knowing that your machine just wants a vacation and he will get paid $50 to house it for a week or two to give it just that because he will not find a thing wrong with it.
You will then take it home and if you have given it the vaction it wants it will purr along like a kitten having it tummy rubbed.
If you love to back-baste for your applique, you will put the pencil design on the front of the fabric instead of the back. Then you can laugh at fellow guild members who sheepishly call and ask for more fabric for the donation quilt because they did the same thing.
"Never be afraid to try anything new. Remember, amateurs built the Ark. Professionals built the Titanic." Unknown.
I can't believe how many of these truism's have happened to me. I do believe that misery loves company, but that doesn't prevent these types of things from happening again and again.
Posts: 108 | Location: Lombard, IL USA | Registered: Sep 23, 2002
If I put the seam ripper away I will need it within minutes, if it falls on the floor I may as well walk away because mistakes are about to happen!
Everytime I decide to use smaller stitches, I have to rip them out!
Edited to add - if I buy a magazine at the grocery store it will ahow up in my mailbox the next day.This message has been edited. Last edited by: Brandyquilter,
"Quilting Cotton (or some such name) on SALE Half Price" is posted on each section of the fabric racks in the back corner of the store.
I grabbed a dozen bolts of fabrics for 1 yard cuts. After they are cut and the tally sheet is handed to me...WHAT? Why doesn't the sale price show up on all the fabrics?
"Quilting Cotton" is the name of the fabric line. Only "Quilting Cotton" fabrics are half price.
Well poo. Here, you can have these back then. Your sign is misleading.
Yep...she didn't like it, but that's what I did - just kept the actual sale fabric.
If you knock your ruler off your cutting table, one corner WILL land on the top of your foot. A sharp pain will run up your leg and out the knee... and said foot will be numb and "crippled" for about 30 minutes. AMHIK...
Originally posted by StarrySky: X-acto knives take aim for feet, too, when dropped...especially bare feet...
As does the largest container of wood putty (can you say heavy?) when you brush up against it while shopping in Menards, as you reach for a ringing cell phone in your purse. They don't tell you to wear steel toed boots when shopping - or quilting for that matter. My big toe's nail is still purple and aqua.
Posts: 1510 | Location: Middle of the Mitten | Registered: Jan 23, 2003
The minute you want to cut something on the cutting board with the rotary cutter, a cat will jump on the table and sit in the prime cutting spot...SWISHing his tail...
"It's bad to supress laughter. It goes back down and spreads to your hips."
Posts: 7481 | Location: California | Registered: Sep 02, 2003
Aahhhhhh very good replies. Unfortunately I have experienced many of them.
You have carefully pinned 2 blocks with several intersecting seams. Your son calls with an emergency. When you return to the sewing table your cat has removed all the critical pins, you are barefoot and step on at least half of the pins.
You have very carefully cleaned your ironing board so that no cat hairs remain. As soon as you start piecing the blocks the cat jumps onto the ironing board and wiggles and stretches over the entire surface.
Butterflies float around my hillside
Posts: 2734 | Location: With the butterflies on my hill | Registered: Oct 16, 2005
You sign your screen name to your swap block...and on the other end your real name...only realizing after you've written KeepY...that that is not your real name...
day into a 
one!
